May 2008

Provided by Mt. Paran Primitive Baptist Church
and Sorrells Springs Primitive Baptist Church

Psalm 23:2
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

Every time I read this verse I am reminded of the times my dad and I would go to the lake fishing and the wind would cease; causing stillness on the water so that I couldn’t even see a ripple. I thank God for those days when He allowed me to see those beautiful scenes of peace.

In this text David tells us that his Shepherd gives him peace, because it is He that makes him to lie down in green pastures and He that leads beside still waters. There is no question that without Him there is no peace. Why, you ask; because the Bible teaches us that the natural man without God knows not the way of peace (Romans 3:17). In Titus 3:3 we read, “For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.” Just by reading that text I believe we could come to the conclusion that there is no peace that could be known by the natural man without God. This is the reason God is called the God of peace in the letter to the Hebrews 13:20 and one day the entire elect family of God will enjoy completely the peace of God when every one of them are assembled at His throne praising Him for His marvelous grace (Revelation 5:9).

In Isaiah 26:3 we read, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee:” In this text we learn of a peace every child of the King can experience while living here in this world. The peace is not enjoyed by giving our time to the world and its pleasures, but by keeping our minds fixed on Jesus the Great Shepherd of the sheep. In Mark 4:35-41 we find a time when the disciples of the Lord were in a ship on the sea and there arose a great storm of wind and the ship was beat against and full of water. The disciples in fear said to the Lord who was asleep in the hinder part of the ship, “Master, carest thou not that we perish?” And when he arose, He rebuked the wind saying, “Peace, be still.” The Bible tells us that there was a great calm after the Lord rebuked the wind and caused the storm to cease. He then reproved his disciples, asking them, “Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?” The Lord did this for two reasons: 1) The disciples had forgotten that the Lord of glory, ruler of heaven, earth, wind and sea was with them on the ship; and 2) Jesus had already told them in verse 35, “Let us pass over unto the other side”. If the disciples had kept these two things in mind, they would not have been fearful at all.

In John 16:33, Jesus told us “that in this world ye shall have tribulation”. He did not say that we might, but that we shall have tribulation. Jesus also told us “be of good cheer. I have overcome the world” and because of His prosperous labors in the room and stead of his sheep (elect family of God – John 10:11) the entire family of God will make it to the other side. Not only this, but while here on earth He has promised never to leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5, Isaiah 49:14-16). So no matter how large the storm of life, be at peace dear child of God, our Lord reigns and one day we will all look back and say “O, death where is thy sting? O, grave where is thy victory?” (1 Cor 15:55).

Elder Ronnie Loudermilk

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Saturday, June 21, 2008, Services are scheduled to ordain Brother Chris Edwards to the office of deacon. The services are scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m.

Services are held at Park Place Nursing Home, Monroe, every 4th Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m.

PRAYER REQUESTS

Sister Cleo Autry
Sister Jean Swords
Sister Nora Haralson
Sister Mary Moss
Brother Mike Puckett
Brother Neal Robertson
Brother Charles Autry
Elder Edward Cagle
Sister Joanne Reeves
and always for each other

SERVICES

Mt. Paran Primitive Baptist Church is located in Monroe, Georgia on Mt. Paran Church Road. Services are held each 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 5th Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
Directions

Sorrells Springs Primitive Baptist Church is located in Monroe, Georgia on Bold Springs Road. Services are held each 4th Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
Directions

For more information, contact Elder Ronnie Loudermilk at
MountParanPBC@gmail.com